About me

We are a part of Dr. Jeremy Long’s Community Ecology Lab at San Diego State University. For the Long Lab official website please click here.

My name is Ric DeSantiago, I am one of Dr. JLo’s PhD students. Although we are broadly trained ecologists here in the lab, I am most interested in the connection between sea and land; the intertidal zone. More specifically, I am interested in how rocky intertidal communities are impacted by climate change and anthropogenic activities. I am currently looking at the impact of a non-native alga, Sargassum horneri, on grazer communities on the California Channel Islands (more on that in the projects section).

My passion lies in using science to reach people in underserved communities so that every student can reach their maximum potential. The way I see it, in the hood, we grow up believing college is not for us and it is my duty to show my people that they too can pursue an education. As an undergrad I worked with science outreach programs including The Splash Science Mobile Lab, The Green Machine, Enviroschool, and continue to collaborate with the Ocean Discovery institute. I am always interested in science outreach and communication, so If you are at all interested in collaborating--whether that means science, art, or outreach initiatives-- please do not hesitate to contact me.